Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk Named Best in the U.S.

Ocean City Boardwalk takes runner-up spot

Roller coasters, funnel cakes, Ferris wheels and ring-a-bottle – if these things say "summer" to you, then these 10 American boardwalks make for an ideal summer escape. Sea air, summer sun and a stroll-able walkway, combined with a dose of old fashioned kitsch, make boardwalks an iconic element of the American summer.

Ocean City BoardwalkOcean City, Md.

Stretching for 3 miles, the Ocean City Boardwalk has become one of the most iconic on the East Coast. Popular with cyclists and dog-walkers, the boardwalk also boasts street performers, carnival rides, arcade games and sweet shops.Photo courtesy of Austin Kirk / Flickr

Carolina Beach BoardwalkCarolina Beach, N.C.

The Carolina Beach Boardwalk bustles in summer, as families stroll past shops, restaurants and bars on the way to the seaside amusement park. Seasonal activities, like live concerts and weekly fireworks in the summer and a lights festival at Christmas, add to the appeal of this East Coast boardwalk.Photo courtesy of Town of Carolina Beach

Virginia Beach BoardwalkVirginia Beach, Va.

Measuring 28 feet wide and 3 miles long, the Virginia Beach Boardwalk offers many winning features, including a separate bike path and nightly live entertainment during the summers. Presiding over it all is a giant bronze statue of King Neptune – one of the most popular photo ops in town.Photo courtesy of Virginia Beach Convention & Visitors Bureau

Jenkinson's BoardwalkPoint Pleasant Beach, N.J.

Located about 90 minutes from both New York and Philadelphia, Jenkinson's Boardwalk occupies a mile and a half of beachfront and is packed with classic Jersey Shore attractions, like arcade games, amusement park rides and sweet shops.Photo courtesy of Shinya Suzuki / Flickr

Hampton Beach BoardwalkHampton Beach, N.H.

While Hampton Beach doesn't have a boardwalk in the strictest sense of the term, it does have an ultra-wide sidewalk with a serious boardwalk vibe. Smells of pizza, waffle cones and cotton candy mingle with the sounds of booming music as swimsuit-wearing pedestrians amble by.Photo courtesy of John DiRusso / Flickr

Old Orchard Beach PierOrchard Beach, Maine

The Old Orchard Beach Pier opened in 1898, and while it's been through a lot over the years – storms and fires mostly – it remains a Maine summer icon. Visitors have their choice of five restaurants and five bars, as well as plentiful shopping opportunities.Photo courtesy of AP Photo/Robert F. Bukaty

Atlantic City Beach and BoardwalkAtlanic City

The boardwalk in Atlantic City ranks among the most famous in the nation. Built in 1870, the boardwalk is lined with everything form high end retailers to classic candy shops, all with ocean views.Photo courtesy of Robert Deutsch, USA TODAY

The top 10 winners in the category Best Boardwalk are as follows:

Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk - Santa Cruz, Calif.

Ocean City Boardwalk - Ocean City, Md.

Carolina Beach Boardwalk - Carolina Beach, N.C.

Wildwoods Boardwalk - Wildwoods, N.J.

Virginia Beach Boardwalk - Virginia Beach, Va.

Jenkinson's Boardwalk - Point Pleasant Beach, N.J.

Hampton Beach Boardwalk - Hampton Beach, N.H.

Old Orchard Beach Pier - Orchard Beach, Maine

Seaside Heights Boardwalk - Seaside Heights, N.J.

Atlantic City Beach and Boardwalk - Atlanic City

A panel of experts picked the initial 20 nominees, and the top 10 winners were determined by popular vote. Experts James Lilliefors (America’s Boardwalks) and Anna Hider (Roadtrippers) were chosen based on their knowledge of great American boardwalks.

The Experts

James Lilliefors

James Lilliefors is author of the book America’s Boardwalks (Rutgers University Press), an illustrated look at the history and mystery of the country’s best boardwalks. Lilliefors is a journalist and novelist whose latest book is The Tempest (HarperCollins/Witness). His website is jameslilliefors.com.

James Lilliefors

James Lilliefors is author of the book America’s Boardwalks (Rutgers University Press), an illustrated look at the history and mystery of the country’s best boardwalks. Lilliefors is a journalist and novelist whose latest book is The Tempest (HarperCollins/Witness). His website is jameslilliefors.com.

Anna Hider

Anna is a writer and social media manager for Read More

Anna is a writer and social media manager for Roadtrippers, the coolest trip-planning site and app on the planet, where she's spent two years digging up the coolest off-the-beaten-path things for travelers to see and do. She loves hiking, exploring, and sometimes even getting lost in a good state park, and is definitely a sucker for any place with a waterfall, a ghost town or a beach.

Anna Hider

Anna is a writer and social media manager for Roadtrippers, the coolest trip-planning site and app on the planet, where she's spent two years digging up the coolest off-the-beaten-path things for travelers to see and do. She loves hiking, exploring, and sometimes even getting lost in a good state park, and is definitely a sucker for any place with a waterfall, a ghost town or a beach.